University Governance and Organization

Stanford University is a trust with corporate powers under the laws of the State of California. The university is a tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the provisions of the Founding Grant, the Board of Trustees (with a maximum membership of 38) is custodian of the endowment and all the properties of Stanford University. The board administers the invested funds, sets the annual budget and determines policies for operation and control of the university. Among the powers given to the trustees by the Founding Grant is the power to appoint a president. The board delegates broad authority to the president to operate the university and to the faculty on certain academic matters. The formal legal name is “The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University.”

Accreditation

Stanford University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Staff

In 2017, 12,508 staff members supported teaching, learning and research at Stanford. This includes 8,275 managerial and professional staff, 1,795 clerical staff, and 972 service and maintenance staff. There are 1,466 employees at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. For more information about working at Stanford, visit stanfordcareers.stanford.edu.

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EL PALO ALTO

The historic tree lives on as the centerpiece of the Stanford University seal.